Can you hear the countdown yet? A new year arrives in less than 48 hours and 2011 will be history. Are you ready? Have you made plans for 2012?
I’m not talking about vacation plans or career plans or plans to renovate your kitchen, though those all need thought and preparation. No, I’m talking about purposeful plans to spend time with God in 2012.
Many of us start the year with good intentions, but regular time with God in His Word often falls by the wayside because we’ve failed to put a plan in place. Planning is not “unspiritual.” Paul told Timothy to “train yourself to be godly” (1 Timothy 4:7) because real spiritual growth takes discipline and purposeful intent.
A great place to begin is with a Bible reading plan. Haphazard reading will always be just that – haphazard. If you have a plan, then you have direction and structure. You never have to wonder, “What will I read today?”
If you’d like to have both a reading plan and group accountability I invite you to join me as I use the “Chronological Bible Story” Reading plan. I’ve invited all my Facebook friends and I have a nice big group joining in. I’ve established a Facebook group where we can talk about what we’re reading, ask questions, and be encouraged.
Won’t you join us? Here’s the group entitled “Reading the Bible Together in 2012″. You can access the reading plan there, or here.
If this plan does not meet your needs, I have several other Bible reading plans on my website. You are welcome to use any of them. Be sure to check out the other discipleship resources as well like the “Quiet Time Tips” and Prayer Helps.
Have you used a Bible reading plan before? What are your goals for getting into God’s Word in 2012?
Kathy Howard calls herself a “confused southerner.” Raised in Louisiana, she has moved with her engineer husband around the U.S. and Canada. She says “pop” instead of “Coke” and “you guys” as often as “ya’ll.” But those things are just superficial – she’s still a southern girl at heart! Kathy and her husband have three children, two son-in-laws, and one precious grandbaby. When the family gets together there are also four dogs in the mix. Kathy helps women live an unshakeable faith through her Bible teaching and writing. She encourages them to stand firm on our rock-solid God no matter the circumstances of life. Find out about her books and speaking ministry and get discipleship tools and leader helps at her website: www.kathyhoward.org.
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Welll…. I planned to read the whole bible in 2011… I’m in Psalms. =p Maybe a detailed plan (or lack of one) was part of my problem. ;) So my plan for 2012 is to read the other half. =)
Amber @ Classic Housewife recently posted..An Argument for Santa #4: The Kids are Missing Out.
Hi Amber! Love your honesty. That kind of thing happens to the best of us. I think your idea to read the other half in 2012 is a good one. But you should have a plan. I don’t have a plan for reading 1/2 the Bible, but I do have a plan for reading the NT, Psalms, and Proverbs in a year. Here’s the link if you’re interested:
http://www.kathyhoward.org/wp-content/themes/kathy/docs/NT-in-One-Year.pdf
Kathy Howard recently posted..God is not fair! – #2 post of 2011
Hey kithe,i want to join your bible reading plan, could you please tell me “when its going to start”.please inform me when you start.
Amit Davre recently posted..Large Dog Kennels For Sale
Hi Amit! We began our Facebook reading group on Monday, January 2nd. However, the plan has readings for 5 days a week – Monday through Friday. If you started today it would not be too difficult to catch up. The other option would be to just begin Monday with the second week of reading. Here is the link to the FB group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/346752805350294/
You can find the reading plan in the “docs” at the top of the group page. If you don’t want to participate in the FB group you can certainly still use that reading plan. Or you could visit my website and choose a different one. There are several plans here:
http://www.kathyhoward.org/free-resources
Kathy Howard recently posted..Why don’t you just grow up? – You’re invited
My plan is to pursue total contentment in my walk with the Lord – My One Word – Contentment. :)
Ms. Kathleen recently posted..My One Word: Contentment
[...] agree with my friends at Do Not Depart, that we need purposeful plans to spend time with God in 2012. Part of my plan will be to study how those in the Bible walked in faith, and how God moved [...]